Tato práce si klade za cíl vyhodnotit techniky získávání znalostí pro využití v prostředí malého podnikání. Po prozkoumání dat a konzultace s doménovymi experty byly vybrány dvě úlohy: analyza nákupního košíku a predikce prodejů. Pro analyzu nákupního košíku byl využit algoritmus Relim pro vyhledávání častych itemsetů a metriky určující zajímavost asociačních pravidel. Pro úlohu predikce prodejů byl implementován dekompoziční model, SARIMA, MARS a neuronové sítě s časovym oknem. Modely byly vyhodnoceny. Pomocí optimalizace hyper-parametrů bylo dosaženo přijatelnych vysledků. Oproti předpokladům nedošlo při dodání dat o počasí a využití nelineárních modelů ke zlepšení oproti SARIMA. Predikce byla implementována jako služba na straně serveru pro testování v produkčním prostředí.

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal avaliar a formação do mercado de agências digitais no Rio Grande do Sul a partir de relações sociais e econômicas desencadeadas pelo empreendedorismo institucional coletivo de empresários, reunidos em uma associação de negócios (business association). O estudo fundamenta-se teoricamente nos pressupostos da Sociologia Econômica dos Mercados. A tese busca evidenciar a relevância de estudos sociológicos sobre a atividade empresarial, notadamente das associações de negócios, com ênfase sobre as ações que uma organização do tipo desenvolve na tentativa de conferir identidade, normas, padrões e fronteiras de atuação comercial e também profissional a um mercado de origem recente, isto é, o mercado de serviços de empresas designadas como agências digitais e que possuem matriz em território gaúcho. Por agências digitais entendemos todas aquelas companhias que têm projetos de Internet como atividade-fim, bem como conteúdo para outras mídias/plataformas digitais (celulares, TV digital e games), e que se situam na interseção de áreas de criação e Comunicação Social, como a Publicidade e Propaganda, e de base técnica, no caso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI). Como resultado desta tese, apontamos qual papel que uma associação de negócios (Agadi / Abradi-RS) desempenha no mercado de agências digitais do Rio Grande do Sul e qual o estágio em que se encontra a formação desse mercado, que possui caráter híbrido, reunindo mais de uma expertise. / This study aims at evaluating the market creation of digital agencies in Rio Grande do Sul privileging the social and economic relations triggered by the collective institutional entrepreneurship within a business association. The study is based on theoretical assumptions of the Economic Sociology of Markets. The study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of sociological research on entrepreneurial activity, particularly related to a business associations, emphasizing the actions of an organization created to give identity, norms, standards and boundaries for the commercial operations as well as to a recent professional market, that is, the market for services companies designated as digital agencies with headquarters in RS. For digital agencies it is understood all those companies that work with Internet projects, as well as with content for other media / digital platforms (mobile phones, digital TV and games), and which lie at the intersection of areas of creation and the Media, as Advertising and Propaganda, and technical basis, in the case of Information Technology (IT). The study examines the role the association plays for the creation of the market for digital agencies do Rio Grande do Sul and the stage it is in the formation of this market, which has hybrid character, gathering more than one expertise.

Local festivals and cultural events, signage and streetscape improvements, and regional marketing efforts indicate that tourism is present in some Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). However, the extent and form of this relationship has never before been examined in the North America context. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the involvement of Ontario’s BIAs in tourism. It reports on the findings of a 2008 province-wide survey of approximately 260 BIAs, touching on a variety of topics, including: the proportion of BIAs that are involved in tourism, the factors prompting them to attract tourists, the ways that they promote themselves to tourists, the types of tourism experiences that they offer, the positive and negative impacts of their tourism efforts, and whether they partner with other stakeholders in tourism promotion efforts. The data are then used to propose a typology of Business Improvement Areas showing differing levels and forms of tourism involvement. The thesis concludes by considering four case studies of successful tourism-oriented BIAs (Downtown Kingston, Downtown London, Downtown Yonge and Creemore), which are examined to identify the characteristics that have led to their success. The findings show that the majority of Ontario’s Business Improvement Areas are involved in tourism, using diverse methods to promote themselves as destinations. Their tourism offering usually includes special events and festivals, but can also involve investments in other attractions. Although BIAs are aware of both positive and negative impacts from tourism, tourism management efforts are uncommon. Seven characteristics of successful tourism-oriented BIAs are identified: innovation, self-awareness, appearance, attractions, partnerships, experiences, and planning. BIAs that strongly manifest these characteristics are believed to be likely candidates to benefit from the tourism industry.

Local festivals and cultural events, signage and streetscape improvements, and regional marketing efforts indicate that tourism is present in some Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). However, the extent and form of this relationship has never before been examined in the North America context. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the involvement of Ontario’s BIAs in tourism. It reports on the findings of a 2008 province-wide survey of approximately 260 BIAs, touching on a variety of topics, including: the proportion of BIAs that are involved in tourism, the factors prompting them to attract tourists, the ways that they promote themselves to tourists, the types of tourism experiences that they offer, the positive and negative impacts of their tourism efforts, and whether they partner with other stakeholders in tourism promotion efforts. The data are then used to propose a typology of Business Improvement Areas showing differing levels and forms of tourism involvement. The thesis concludes by considering four case studies of successful tourism-oriented BIAs (Downtown Kingston, Downtown London, Downtown Yonge and Creemore), which are examined to identify the characteristics that have led to their success. The findings show that the majority of Ontario’s Business Improvement Areas are involved in tourism, using diverse methods to promote themselves as destinations. Their tourism offering usually includes special events and festivals, but can also involve investments in other attractions. Although BIAs are aware of both positive and negative impacts from tourism, tourism management efforts are uncommon. Seven characteristics of successful tourism-oriented BIAs are identified: innovation, self-awareness, appearance, attractions, partnerships, experiences, and planning. BIAs that strongly manifest these characteristics are believed to be likely candidates to benefit from the tourism industry.

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal avaliar a formação do mercado de agências digitais no Rio Grande do Sul a partir de relações sociais e econômicas desencadeadas pelo empreendedorismo institucional coletivo de empresários, reunidos em uma associação de negócios (business association). O estudo fundamenta-se teoricamente nos pressupostos da Sociologia Econômica dos Mercados. A tese busca evidenciar a relevância de estudos sociológicos sobre a atividade empresarial, notadamente das associações de negócios, com ênfase sobre as ações que uma organização do tipo desenvolve na tentativa de conferir identidade, normas, padrões e fronteiras de atuação comercial e também profissional a um mercado de origem recente, isto é, o mercado de serviços de empresas designadas como agências digitais e que possuem matriz em território gaúcho. Por agências digitais entendemos todas aquelas companhias que têm projetos de Internet como atividade-fim, bem como conteúdo para outras mídias/plataformas digitais (celulares, TV digital e games), e que se situam na interseção de áreas de criação e Comunicação Social, como a Publicidade e Propaganda, e de base técnica, no caso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI). Como resultado desta tese, apontamos qual papel que uma associação de negócios (Agadi / Abradi-RS) desempenha no mercado de agências digitais do Rio Grande do Sul e qual o estágio em que se encontra a formação desse mercado, que possui caráter híbrido, reunindo mais de uma expertise. / This study aims at evaluating the market creation of digital agencies in Rio Grande do Sul privileging the social and economic relations triggered by the collective institutional entrepreneurship within a business association. The study is based on theoretical assumptions of the Economic Sociology of Markets. The study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of sociological research on entrepreneurial activity, particularly related to a business associations, emphasizing the actions of an organization created to give identity, norms, standards and boundaries for the commercial operations as well as to a recent professional market, that is, the market for services companies designated as digital agencies with headquarters in RS. For digital agencies it is understood all those companies that work with Internet projects, as well as with content for other media / digital platforms (mobile phones, digital TV and games), and which lie at the intersection of areas of creation and the Media, as Advertising and Propaganda, and technical basis, in the case of Information Technology (IT). The study examines the role the association plays for the creation of the market for digital agencies do Rio Grande do Sul and the stage it is in the formation of this market, which has hybrid character, gathering more than one expertise.

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal avaliar a formação do mercado de agências digitais no Rio Grande do Sul a partir de relações sociais e econômicas desencadeadas pelo empreendedorismo institucional coletivo de empresários, reunidos em uma associação de negócios (business association). O estudo fundamenta-se teoricamente nos pressupostos da Sociologia Econômica dos Mercados. A tese busca evidenciar a relevância de estudos sociológicos sobre a atividade empresarial, notadamente das associações de negócios, com ênfase sobre as ações que uma organização do tipo desenvolve na tentativa de conferir identidade, normas, padrões e fronteiras de atuação comercial e também profissional a um mercado de origem recente, isto é, o mercado de serviços de empresas designadas como agências digitais e que possuem matriz em território gaúcho. Por agências digitais entendemos todas aquelas companhias que têm projetos de Internet como atividade-fim, bem como conteúdo para outras mídias/plataformas digitais (celulares, TV digital e games), e que se situam na interseção de áreas de criação e Comunicação Social, como a Publicidade e Propaganda, e de base técnica, no caso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI). Como resultado desta tese, apontamos qual papel que uma associação de negócios (Agadi / Abradi-RS) desempenha no mercado de agências digitais do Rio Grande do Sul e qual o estágio em que se encontra a formação desse mercado, que possui caráter híbrido, reunindo mais de uma expertise. / This study aims at evaluating the market creation of digital agencies in Rio Grande do Sul privileging the social and economic relations triggered by the collective institutional entrepreneurship within a business association. The study is based on theoretical assumptions of the Economic Sociology of Markets. The study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of sociological research on entrepreneurial activity, particularly related to a business associations, emphasizing the actions of an organization created to give identity, norms, standards and boundaries for the commercial operations as well as to a recent professional market, that is, the market for services companies designated as digital agencies with headquarters in RS. For digital agencies it is understood all those companies that work with Internet projects, as well as with content for other media / digital platforms (mobile phones, digital TV and games), and which lie at the intersection of areas of creation and the Media, as Advertising and Propaganda, and technical basis, in the case of Information Technology (IT). The study examines the role the association plays for the creation of the market for digital agencies do Rio Grande do Sul and the stage it is in the formation of this market, which has hybrid character, gathering more than one expertise.

每隔一段時間，就會有專家、學者出面預測中國大陸即將崩潰，只是實際情況的發展似乎與他們的預期有所出入。換言之，儘管中國大陸目前有許多問題，但是尚未有證據顯示，這些問題在短期內可能引發重大危機。 中國大陸曾經被視為約十年會有一個週期的政治危機週期，上次危機發生在一九八九年，在時序進入二○○五年之後，似乎已逐漸脫離危機週期的規律。 任何國家都可能發生各式各樣的危機，危機的結果卻不見得會帶來崩潰，其關鍵在於國家與社會如何面對及應付危機，雙方關係究竟在危機前後是如何彼此定位？ 以天安門民主運動事件為例，在事件發生之前，中國大陸正面臨自改革開放以來最大的經濟危機—通貨膨脹。 然而危機的結果是以軍隊鎮壓收場，使得中國大陸社會運動就此陷於沉寂之中，晚近社會抗議事件雖然有增加的趨勢，但距離真正形成持續性的社會運動尚遠。 由此可知，政權出現正當性危機進而使得社會自主性增加，就必須具備兩項條件：一是引發正當性危機的事件出現；二是正當性危機出現後，社會力量興起與各方政治勢力透過妥協安排後，增加其本身的自由性。 本研究的目的要解答的問題是「天安門事件後中國大陸國家能力與社會自主性的關係」，此外社會力量之興起及政治勢力會否妥協，牽涉到各種菁英及一舨民眾對政治的態度問題，故本文亦藉用政治文化的研究途徑來探討國家能力與社會自主性之關係。

Cette recherche apporte un éclairage nouveau sur les associations patronales au Québec, tout en contribuant au développement d’outils théoriques qui pourront être mis à profit lors de recherches ultérieures. Les associations patronales québécoises se dédient à la défense des intérêts collectifs de leurs membres, déterminés en fonction de certaines valeurs caractéristiques du libéralisme économique. Les membres exercent pour leur part une influence sur l'agenda stratégique de leur association. Aussi, la perception que les acteurs patronaux ont d’eux-mêmes varie en fonction de la provenance des fonds dont ils disposent et leur indépendance économique est perçue comme un gage de légitimité. De plus, le type de stratégies pour lequel optent les associations patronales est influencé par le niveau géo-économique auquel se déroulent leurs activités. Enfin, les associations patronales mettent en place des innovations institutionnelles afin de renouveler des processus devenus désuets et ce, grâce aux ressources de pouvoir dont elles disposent. Plusieurs éléments déterminent les moyens mis en œuvre par les associations patronales pour influencer les politiques publiques, les relations du travail et les institutions du marché du travail. L'État est d’ailleurs la cible première de leurs actions et ce, principalement en ce qui concerne les dossiers relatifs à la sphère économique. La prise en considération des intérêts individuels et collectifs des membres détermine si les organisations mobilisent leurs ressources de pouvoir pour engendrer des changements institutionnels, ce qui les place dans une logique proactive. Les ressources de pouvoir ne sont toutefois pas toujours mises à profit dans ce but, car la plupart du temps, les associations se comportent de manière réactive, sans chercher à modifier leur environnement institutionnel. / This research sheds new light on the employers’ associations in the province of Quebec, and contributes to the development of theoretical tools that can be used in future research. Provincial business associations are dedicated to defending the collective interests of their members, generally guided by values of economic liberalism. Members have an influence on the strategic agenda of their association. The image of the organisation will vary depending on its sources of funding, with greater financial independence bolstering an association’s perceived legitimacy. Furthermore, the level at which the activities of the business associations take place influences the type of strategies used to attain their goals. Finally, they can use their power resources to implement institutional innovations in order to renew processes that have become obsolete. Several factors determine the means used by business associations to influence public policy, work relations and labor market institutions. The State constitutes the main target of action for business organisations, with a usual focus on economic matters. The combination of individual and collective interests of members determines whether the association mobilizes its power resources to generate institutional change, which would place it in a proactive logic of action. However power resources are not always used in this manner; associations in fact mostly behave reactively, without trying to modify their institutional environment.

Cette recherche apporte un éclairage nouveau sur les associations patronales au Québec, tout en contribuant au développement d’outils théoriques qui pourront être mis à profit lors de recherches ultérieures. Les associations patronales québécoises se dédient à la défense des intérêts collectifs de leurs membres, déterminés en fonction de certaines valeurs caractéristiques du libéralisme économique. Les membres exercent pour leur part une influence sur l'agenda stratégique de leur association. Aussi, la perception que les acteurs patronaux ont d’eux-mêmes varie en fonction de la provenance des fonds dont ils disposent et leur indépendance économique est perçue comme un gage de légitimité. De plus, le type de stratégies pour lequel optent les associations patronales est influencé par le niveau géo-économique auquel se déroulent leurs activités. Enfin, les associations patronales mettent en place des innovations institutionnelles afin de renouveler des processus devenus désuets et ce, grâce aux ressources de pouvoir dont elles disposent. Plusieurs éléments déterminent les moyens mis en œuvre par les associations patronales pour influencer les politiques publiques, les relations du travail et les institutions du marché du travail. L'État est d’ailleurs la cible première de leurs actions et ce, principalement en ce qui concerne les dossiers relatifs à la sphère économique. La prise en considération des intérêts individuels et collectifs des membres détermine si les organisations mobilisent leurs ressources de pouvoir pour engendrer des changements institutionnels, ce qui les place dans une logique proactive. Les ressources de pouvoir ne sont toutefois pas toujours mises à profit dans ce but, car la plupart du temps, les associations se comportent de manière réactive, sans chercher à modifier leur environnement institutionnel. / This research sheds new light on the employers’ associations in the province of Quebec, and contributes to the development of theoretical tools that can be used in future research. Provincial business associations are dedicated to defending the collective interests of their members, generally guided by values of economic liberalism. Members have an influence on the strategic agenda of their association. The image of the organisation will vary depending on its sources of funding, with greater financial independence bolstering an association’s perceived legitimacy. Furthermore, the level at which the activities of the business associations take place influences the type of strategies used to attain their goals. Finally, they can use their power resources to implement institutional innovations in order to renew processes that have become obsolete. Several factors determine the means used by business associations to influence public policy, work relations and labor market institutions. The State constitutes the main target of action for business organisations, with a usual focus on economic matters. The combination of individual and collective interests of members determines whether the association mobilizes its power resources to generate institutional change, which would place it in a proactive logic of action. However power resources are not always used in this manner; associations in fact mostly behave reactively, without trying to modify their institutional environment.